I’m away from home at present, teaching and performing with Lutheran Summer Music (a music academy and festival for High School age music students) at Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, IN.
It used to be easy to pack up my sewing machine along with the other things I needed for the month when I lived in MN and could drive to the various Midwestern Lutheran College and University sites for this particular job. Since moving to California, I’ve now been flying to these respective destinations, which has resulted in a reassessment and adjustment of what I bring with me each summer. Sadly, traveling with a sewing machine is one of the things I’ve had to do without in recent years.
At home, I’m at my sewing machine nearly every day, working on a number of projects throughout each week. As rewarding as serving on the voice faculty with LSM each summer is for me, I tend to miss sewing while I’m here. This said, an unexpected and positive benefit of being away from my sewing machine is the opportunity for reflection and perspective; for past projects and inspiration for future and partially completed projects when I return home.
In my down time here in Indiana I’ve been able to re-watch some of the Craftsy classes I’ve invested in, sewing webcasts, webinars, and YouTube tutorials. These video outlets as well as online sewing blogs have proven rewarding and educational when I can’t actively be sewing.
Another thing I look forward at LSM each summer is reconnecting with one of my favorite music colleagues and fellow sewists, Cheryl, who not only is a highly-accomplished Collaborative Pianist, but also seriously talented with a sewing machine. We compare notes throughout the year via text and e-mail, sharing photos of our projects and links to our favorite sewing blogs, websites and more, but it’s even better to discuss these shared things together in greater detail in person each summer as well.
There is great wisdom in delayed gratification, yielding patience and clarity for what is most essential and meaningful. I’m grateful for this time away from my sewing machine for all the reasons above but I’m also looking forward to being back at it again soon.
In closing, here is a photo of a tee-shirt quilt I made with some past LSM tee-shirts I’ve collected through the years. It will be displayed during our final “festival” week this summer 7/23-7/29.
PetiteSewSop 
Well said. Sometimes a forced leave of absence from something you enjoy does make space for growth and “continuing education” of sorts. The quilt is beautiful, and the pattern of your stitches recall sound (waves), which is appropriate for the purpose/mission of your LSM activities.
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Love the sound wave analogy! Thanks for your thoughtful comments.
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